Compare towns
Weare vs Litchfield vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Weare has the most affordable homes ($396k median).
Litchfield has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Weare | Litchfield | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,170Highest |
8,499 |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4 5% above NH |
43.1±1.7Lowest about the NH average |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
| Chester and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4 NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Litchfield and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
14.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Chester and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4.4%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,271±$17kLowest 19% above NH |
$162,036±$11kHighest 64% above NH |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
| Litchfield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$485,000±$18k 20% above NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,541±$214Lowest 3% above NH |
$2,138±$406Highest 43% above NH |
— |
| Litchfield and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,272Lowest 6% below NH |
$8,273 24% above NH |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6 NH: 48.2% |
81.5%±38.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Litchfield and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4% NH: 7.2% |
1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Lowest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
29 minLowest 9% above NH |
35 min 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Weare and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #84 of 120 in NH | #53 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Litchfield School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | Campbell High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
11.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.